Comparative study of the structural and magnetic properties of bulk and nanostructured Fe2CrAl

Nanostructured Fe₂CrAl has been prepared by mechanical alloying using a high energy ball mill. The structural and magnetic properties of the as-milled and mechanically alloyed sample annealed in the presence of a magnetic field have been studied by means of X-ray diffractometry, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and DC magnetization. The observed properties are compared to that of the bulk sample. The magnetic hyperfine fields are related to structural disorder. There is a very good enhancement of bulk magnetic properties in the nano-sized samples, the most notable one being a dramatic increase in the Curie temperature of these samples and are explained in terms of structural disordering and size effect.     

A study of the magnetic moments and Fe site hyperfine fields in iron-chromium alloys

The magnetization of Fe-Cr alloys ranging from 1 to 15 atomic % of Cr has been measured at room temperature in order to study the relationship between the Fe site hyperfine fields and the magnetic moment. The average moment decreases linearly, at a rate of -2.36 μ_B per Cr atom, up to 10% Cr concentration. The Fe site hyperfine fields were measured in a previous study¹ using the same samples. It is found that the hyperfine fields measured are not proportional to the corresponding magnetic moments. The results are interpreted using a model previously developed for other binary alloys of iron².     

Hyperfine magnetic fields in Fe−Co alloys and their tempera ture dependences

We obtained⁵⁷Fe hyperfine field parameters from Fe₁−x-Co _x alloys (0≤x≤0.6) from 77 K to 900 K. We first discuss the origin of the low temperature hyperfine fields in terms of the 3d and 4s electrons at⁵⁷Fe atoms. The⁵⁷Fe hyperfine magnetic field (hmf) of Fe-Co alloys depends more weakly on temperature than the hmf of pure Fe. This temperature dependence occurs because the alignment of the magnetic moments at both the Fe atoms and at the Co atoms depend on temperature in the same way as the bulk magnetization of Fe-Co alloys.     

Local magnetic states and hyperfine interactions in Fe/Ti magnetic superlattices

Multilayer Fe/Ti films are synthesized by deposition in a Penning discharge. Measurements are made of thhe static hysteresis loops and Mössbauer spectra on Fe⁵⁷ nuclei. The hyperfine magnetic field distribution functions are calculated. It is established that the spontaneous magnetization of Fe/Ti magnetic superlattices undergoes very strong oscillations as a function of the Ti layer thickness. Three groups of peaks are noted in the hyperfine field distribution functions, corresponding to three nonequivalent states of the Fe ions, in one of which these ions do not have a characteristic magnetic moment. These results also agree with measurements of the temperature dependence of the magnetization in weak magnetic fields. For some Ti interlayer thicknesses the saturation magnetization scaled to the Fe content is much higher than the saturation magnetization of bulk Fe.     

First-principles studies of the magnetic hyperfine field in Fe multilayers

A detailed theoretical study of the magnetic moments and magnetic hyperfine fields in several Fe multilayers (Fe fcc(001)/5X fcc(001), X=Cu and Ag, and Fe bcc(001)/5X fcc(001), X=Ag and Au) as well as in bulk Fe is presented. The calculations have been performed using the spin-polarized, relativistic linear muffin-tin orbital (SPR-LMTO) method of band structure calculation. Therefore, not only the contribution to the hyperfine fields due to the conventional Fermi contact interaction but also due to the spin dipolar and orbital contributions induced by the crystal field and by spin-orbit coupling are accounted for. To decompose the hyperfine field of non-s-electrons into these contributions it has been assumed that they are proportional to the corresponding so-called magnetic dipole moment and the orbital magnetic moment, respectively. In contrast to previous results for pure metals and alloys not only the orbital but also the spin dipolar hyperfine field was found to be non-negligible. The anisotropy of the hyperfine field determined by calculations for in-plane and perpendicular orientation of the magnetisation was found to be very pronounced and closely connected with the corresponding anisotropy of the magnetic dipole moment and the orbital moment.     

CEMS-study of the interface in Fe/Cr multilayer systems

The magnetic hyperfine (hf.) fields at the Fe/Cr interface were analyzed in epitaxial Fe/Cr thin film structures of (100)- and (110)-orientation with monolayer resolution by means of in-situ⁵⁷Fe Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS). The hf. field (300 K) in the 1st Fe-monolayer (ML) at the interface has been found to be strongly reduced to 22.0/20.9 T for (110)-/(100)-orientation, whereas the 2nd and 3rd ML reveal a slightly increased hf. field of 33.7 T as compared with the Fe-bulk value of 33.4 T. The temperature dependence of the hf. field at the interface shows aT ^3/2 spin wave law. The spin wave parameters are enlarged with respect to the bulk value indicating a reduced exchange interaction. A discontinuity in theT ^3/2-dependence is interpreted by the onset of magnetic order (Néel-temperature) of the Cr layers adjoining the⁵⁷Fe probe layer.     

A Mössbauer effect study of Y(57Fe:Mn)12

The intermetallic compound, YMn₁₂, doped with 0.5at.%⁵⁷Fe has been investigated using the⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer resonance. The data show that the Fe impurities occupy preferentially the f-site at the expense of the i- and j-sites. Whereas the i- and j-sites are expected to carry identical local magnetic moments in the ordered state, low temperature hyperfine fields of 50.08(±0.05)T and 2.90(±0.03)T are measured for the i- and j-sites respectively. It is proposed that large transferred hyperfine fields are responsible for this disparity.     

Pressure dependence of the distribution of hyperfine fields in ZrFe2 and Zr(Nb)Fe2

The pressure dependence of the hyperfine fields of⁹¹Zr and⁵⁷Fe, and of⁹³Nb as a dilute impurity, has been measured for ZrFe₂ up to 8 kbar at 4.2 K. The results suggest that Nb, like Zr, carries a magnetic moment anti-parallel to the Fe moment.     

A study of the induced magnetic hyperfine fields in Fe/Ag multilayers

Near perpendicular magnetic hyperfine fields in ^110mAg have been observed in Fe/Ag multilayers. These fields are studied by low temperature nuclear orientation (LTNO) in multilayers [Ag(x ML)/Fe(y ML)]₂₀, with (x,y) monolayer (ML) values of (2,10), (3,9), (5,10) and (3,18). The ^110mAg γ-ray anisotropy was measured as a function of applied magnetic field parallel to the multilayer. The average induced hyperfine field of Ag is significantly influenced by the quality of the multilayer as measured by X-ray diffraction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of the local environment on the hyperfine interactions in Zr(Fe1-xCox)2 compounds

Ferromagnetic Laves phase compounds Zr(Fe_1-xCo_x)₂ have been investigated by means of the Mössbauer effect (⁵⁷Fe) and by the time-dependent perturbed angular correlation of \gamma -rays (¹⁸¹Ta) technique. It has been concluded from ME experiments that by exchange of Fe by Co in the nearest neighbour shell of the nuclear probe the hyperfine magnetic field acting on ⁵⁷Fe decreases by 10--12 kG. The analysis of the TDPAC experiments revealed that two different hyperfine magnetic fields: B₁ ^hf(Ta)~ 61 kG and B₂ ^hf(Ta)~ 88 kG act on the ¹⁸¹Ta nuclei. Both have a negative sign.     

Spin-canting and transverse relaxation in maghemite nanoparticles and in tin-doped maghemite

The magnetic properties of maghemite nanoparticles and tin-doped maghemite have been studied by ⁵⁷Fe and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy at temperatures from 6 to 300 K with and without applied magnetic fields. The low-temperature ⁵⁷Fe spectra of both samples, obtained in a field of 4 T, can be described in terms of A-site and B-site components with perfect ferrimagnetic order and a strongly canted component, which seems to have its main contribution from B-site ions. At higher temperatures, the components with strong canting are influenced by transverse relaxation, which results in significant line broadening, a reduction of the magnetic hyperfine splitting and a reduction in the relative areas of lines 2 and 5. The ¹¹⁹Sn spectra show a very broad distribution of magnetic hyperfine fields at low temperatures. When the sample was exposed to applied magnetic fields the distribution became narrower. The spectra show that the direction of the hyperfine field of a large fraction of the tin ions in maghemite is antiparallel to the applied field, but a minor fraction of the tin ions have canted hyperfine fields.     

Temperature dependence of the hyperfine fields for fluorine in ferromagnetic iron,nickel and gadolinium

The temperature dependence of the magnetic hyperfine fields at the sites of F nuclei implanted into ferromagnetic Fe, Ni and Gd has been studied in the temperature range from 77 K to 670 K. A pulsed proton beam was used to observe the time-differential precession of the 5/2⁺ state in¹⁹F. Deviations from the bulk magnetization were found for Fe and Ni. The damping of the two observed fields in Ni was interpreted in terms of a field distribution caused by an induced radiation damage. The occupation sites for F and possible mechanisms of the anomalous temperature dependence are discussed.     

Magnetic hyperfine interaction near Fe(100) surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum

The DCEMS technique in UHV has been used to measure for the first time the temperature dependence (31 to 295 K) of the magnetic hyperfine field B_HF averaged over several atomic layers near the surface of α-⁵⁷Fe(100) thin films covered by residual gas adatoms. The measured B_HF(T) curve closely follows that of bulk α-Fe. The surface magnetic moment of a residual gas coated Fe(100) surface in UHV appears to be not significantly modified as compared to the bulk.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer studies of pure and Ti-doped YFeO 3 nanocrystalline particles prepared by mechanical milling and subsequent sintering

Single-phased nanocrystalline particles of pure and 10 % Ti ⁴⁺-doped perovskite-related YFeO ₃were prepared via mechanosynthesis at 450^°C. This temperature is ～150–350 ^°C lower than those at which the materials, in bulk form, are normally prepared. Rietveld refinements of the X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the dopant Ti ⁴⁺ ions prefer interstitial octahedral sites in the orthorhombic crystal lattice rather than those originally occupied by the expelled Fe ³⁺ ions. Magnetic measurements show canted antiferromagnetism in both types of nanoparticles. Doping with Ti ⁴⁺ lowers the Néel temperature of the YFeO ₃ nanoparticles from ～ 586 K to ～ 521 K. The Ti ⁴⁺-doped YFeO ₃ nanoparticles exhibit enhanced magnetization and coercivity but less magnetic hyperfine fields relative to the un-doped nanoparticles. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra show ～ 15 % of the YFeO ₃ nanoparticles and ～22 of Ti ⁴⁺-doped YFeO ₃ ones to be superparamagnetic with blocking temperatures < 78 K. The broadened magnetic components in the ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra suggest size-dependent hyperfine magnetic fields at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclear sites and were associated with collective magnetic excitations. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra show the local environments of the Fe ³⁺ ions in the superparamagnetic nanoparticles to be more sensitive to the presence of the Ti ⁴⁺ ions relative to those in the larger magnetic nanoparticles.     

57Fe Mössbauer study of Fe nitrides

Summary Magnetic properties of Fe nitrides have been re-examined by⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Hyperfine magnetic fields for α″-Fe₁₆N₂ are 30, 31 and 39T at 298K, but the averaged hyperfine field is 33T and nearly equal to the value of pure α-Fe. σ-Fe₂ N is an antiferromagnet below 9K having a small magnetic moment less than 0.1 μ_B, although γ′-Fe₄N and ε-Fe_3–2N are ferromagnets. ZnS-type FeN is non-magnetic at 4.2K. M?ssbauer spectra obtained from NaCl-type FeN are complex and some Fe atoms in this nitride show a surprisingly large hyperfine magnetic field of 49T. Paper presented at the ICAME-95, Rimini, 10–16 September 1995.     

Time differential perturbed angular correlations of Gd160 implanted into ferromagnetic Gd and of Yb176 into Fe and Ni

Time differential perturbed angular correlation measurements of Gd¹⁶⁰ in ferromagnetic Gd at various temperatures and of Yb¹⁷⁶ in Fe and Ni have been performed following Coulomb excitation with a pulsed beam and recoil implantation. Using the theory of combined static magnetic and electric hyperfine interaction the measured time spectra are reasonably well reproduced, the magnetic fields and electric field gradients being in agreement with other works. A phase shift of the Larmor precession, however, points to anomalous hyperfine fields acting on the nuclei in a very short time interval after the beam pulse.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of [Fe(H2O)6]3+ in amorphous frozen solutions at weak applied magnetic fields

The ferric hexaquo complex, [Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺, has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy of amorphous aqueous frozen solutions at weak applied magnetic fields. Spectra of well resolved paramagnetic hyperfine structure have been interpreted in terms of a spin Hamiltonian model for the crystal field interaction proposed in a previous work. Reasonable fits could be obtained only by the addition of a random magnetic field of a few Gauss which is attributed partly to the dipolar interaction with neighbouring iron ions, and partly to the ligand hyperfine interaction.     

Magnetic hyperfine fields at Ta in Co and Fe hosts measured by the e−-γ time-differential perturbedangular-correlation method

The radioactivity¹⁸¹Hf was implanted into pure Co and Fe hosts with the help of an isotope separator. The ferromagnetic hosts produce very strong magnetic hyperfine interactions at the nuclear site of Ta atoms. These hyperfine interactions were studied by time-differential measurements of the 133 keV conversion electron — 482 keV γ angular correlation. It is found that in both hosts an appreciable fraction of Hf atoms occupies regular lattice sites after the implantation. Using the knowng-factor of the 482 keV state of¹⁸¹Ta the magnetic hyperfine fieldsH _hf=±362.4(5.0) and ±596(18) kG for the Co and Fe hosts, respectively, were deduced These fields fit nicely into the systematics of the hyperfine fields for the 5d transition elements but are not well accounted by the existing theoretical models.     

Moment compensation in NixRh1−x(Fe) from Moessbauer spectroscopy

The magnetic behaviour of very dilute ⁵⁷Fe(≈20 ppm) impurities in paramagnetic Ni_xRh_1?x (x = 0.42 and x = 0.55) alloys has been studied by Moessbauer spectroscopy in the temperature range between 11 and 0.05 K and in external fields up to 5.6 T. The magnetic moment associated with the Fe-impurity is determined via the dependence of the hyperfine magnetic field on applied magnetic field and temperature. Below 4.2 K deviations from a free spin behaviour are found. The saturation hyperfine field becomes dependent on the applied field, a behaviour which is typical for impurity spin compensation. This compensation decreases with Ni concentration.     

Magnetic hyperfine fields at Fe,Cd and Sn sites in an FeCo alloy

The magnetic hyperfine field at an Fe site in the ferromagnetic alloy Fe_0.475Co_0.525 was measured using the Mössbauer effect. The value obtained at room temperature was 343 kOe. The hyperfine field at a substituted Cd impurity was measured by the method of time differential perturbed angular correlations. A single frequency was observed at room temperature, corresponding to a field of -177 kOe. Using the Mössbauer effect, the Sn site hyperfine field was measured in a sample in which 0.3 atomic percent of ¹¹⁹Sn had been substituted. The room temperature spectrum consisted of the superposition of a single line, together with a six-line hyperfine spectrum, corresponding to a field of 231 kOe. A phenomenological interpretation is proposed for Fe, Cd and Sn fields in the binary alloys of iron.